40,000 expected to participate in this walk

NEWS RELEASE

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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Whether you're doing it for the first time, or continuing a family tradition, the annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk is less than a week away.

Gov. Rick Snyder will lead the expected 40,000 walkers across the 5-mile span beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, September 1.

Walkers can start across the bridge up until 11 a.m., and buses are available to bring walkers from Mackinaw City to St. Ignace for $5.

All details on the walk are available on the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) website at www.mackinacbridge.org.

To help ensure the safety of all participants, the Michigan State Police (MSP) again will conduct searches of purses, bags and backpacks for all walkers.

Walkers are asked to leave their purses, bags and backpacks in their vehicles, if the contents aren't essential, to avoid delays.

"Submitting your bag for a quick search or leaving it in your vehicle will help ensure the walk is safe and enjoyable for all participants," said MBA Executive Secretary Bob Sweeney.

For the third year in a row, the MBA and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) are asking the public to share their bridge walk experiences on social media with photos and videos.

One person sharing their memories will be chosen at random to receive a once-in-a-lifetime tour to the top of the Mackinac Bridge.

Memories can be posted on MDOT's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MichiganDOT, or on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #MightyMacWalk14.

For contest details, go to the MDOT website: www.michigan.gov/mdot.

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